Joel M. Baskin

Attorney at Law

Criminal Defense

Criminal law is a body of rules and statutes which prohibits any conduct that threatens or harms the public safety or welfare and defines different punishments for violating the laws. It is divided into two categories: misdemeanors and felonies.

Everyone is human and makes mistakes. Sometimes those mistakes are made due to a moment of carelessness or an unwise decision without thought for the consequences that could result. If you find yourself charged with a criminal offense you should never admit guilt or make any statements. The first thing you should do is ask for a Marietta criminal defense attorney who can protect your rights and make sure that you will be treated fairly. We understand that being arrested and charged with a criminal offense can be very frightening and even embarrassing, but we put you first and are dedicated to working with you to help you get your life back on track.

It is important to remember that you are presumed innocent until proven guilty. It is the job of the state (if the prosecutor doesn’t meet their burden, then the Court can’t find the defendant guilty, and if it’s a jury trial, then the jury decides) to prove your guilt. The arresting officer is required to follow certain procedures, and failure to properly follow those procedures including improper administration of any tests such as a DUI test can weaken the state’s case against you.

An experienced criminal defense attorney knows how the system works and what things to look for to help your case. He will investigate all the circumstances of your case and can sometimes get charges reduced or dropped because improper procedures were followed by law enforcement. Many times it is also possible to negotiate with the court to get charges reduced or dropped by getting you into a rehabilitation program or by doing community service.

Sometimes it is possible to have a criminal record expunged. This is very important because a criminal record can negatively affect your chances of entering the military, opportunities for future education and future employment. Every case is unique and needs the expertise of a good criminal defense attorney to determine the best course of action.

We dedicate a portion of our practice to criminal defense and limit it to certain types of cases so that we can give it the time and attention to detail needed that will guarantee you receive the best personal service and get the best possible outcome.

DUI – Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. A DUI offense can be a
misdemeanor or felony. A DUI is considered a felony when a person has had
three or more drunk-driving offenses or caused property damage and/or bodily
harm.

Shoplifting – Shoplifting can be a misdemeanor or felony depending upon the
value of the item. The reason a person shoplifts, whether store personnel acted
appropriately, if the person was legally detained, and other circumstances can all
have a direct impact on how a criminal defense attorney will defend your case.

Drug cases – If you have been charged with a drug offense you need to get an
attorney right away. Drug offenses are serious and carry severe penalties. Drug
cases may include manufacturing, possession, intent to sell, and sale.

Traffic cases – Most traffic cases are less serious violations, but do not take a
traffic violation lightly. It would be wise to have a Vinings or East Point traffic violation attorney represent you for a traffic offense because if not handled
properly it could result in the loss of driving privileges, increased insurance
costs, loss of employment, and more. Traffic cases can include reckless driving,
speeding, moving violations, driving without a license/suspended license,
driving without insurance and parking tickets.

"I was thinking to myself everybody knows this attorney. I walked into to court and he must have spoken to 15 other attorneys before we started our case. He showed meticulous preparation and was great on his feet. He told me not to expect much and that the case was very difficult. We settled my case two days into trial and I was very pleased with his work. Thanks for a great job."

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